Verizon Wireless will use Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)'s Subscriber Data Manager (SDM) from its IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) portfolio, which will be used to centralize Verizon Wireless's many application databases across its 3G and 4G networks.

In theory, this is a great way to centralize a lot of disparate data. But could it also mean there's a single point of failure if something goes wrong, as has happened to other operators in the past?

Heavy Reading analyst Jim Hodges says this shouldn't be an issue, so long as the SDM system is deployed and managed correctly, since although it is a single database, it's replicated to provide redundancy.

The industry is adopting a similar centralized approach for managing Diameter Signaling, with the deployment of Diameter Routing Agents and Diameter Edge Agents (DRAs and DEAs), he tells Light Reading. (See What's Next for SDM?)

"Using SDM technology to meet scalability requirements is not a new approach and it has proven to be survivable," Hodges says. "The other advantage of using a centralized database with various software-based front end applications is that it puts in place the framework to support personalized services."

Verizon didn't divulge what services it might be exploring, but voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) is likely a top priority. Alcatel-Lucent says that as part of its SDM platform, the carrier will also be using its Motive Authentication, Authorization and Accounting Server, Centralized Operations Manager, SDM Expert products, and its VoLTE feature set. (See Verizon VoLTE Testing Spotted.)

Glad to See AlcaLU as engaged.... With all the challenges that AlcaLu has had over the past number of years, it is still gratifying to see this stalwarth of networking playing a vital role as it has and how Verizon has adopted some of its' technologies.

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